Automatic installation for use in an electrolytic process or the like



iml b w Nov. 1, 1960 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 G. JEANMARIE LANEYRIE AUTOMATICINSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE 8Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1960 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIEAUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE aSheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1960 cs. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE 2,

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR usx: IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKEFiled Oct, 14, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov- 1, 19 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE2,958,

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 1960 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE 2,958,639

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKEFiled Oct. 14, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 1, 1960 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE2,

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE} IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKEFiled Oct. 14, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 1, 1960 G. JEAN-MARIE LANEYRIE2,953,639

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE IN AN FIG.12

ummwmu Nov- 1, 19 0 G. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IE 2,958,539

AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR USE I N ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE AUTOMATICINSTALLATIGN FQR USE IN AN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS OR THE LIKE GeorgesJean-Marie Laneyrie, Noyon, France, assignor to Socit Anonyme dite:Laminoirs a Froid de 'I'hionville, Thionville (Moselle), France, acorporation of France Filed Oct. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 689,853

Claims priority, application France Nov. 13, 1956 5 Claims. (Cl.204-198) This invention relates to a new article of manufacture whichconsists of an automatically operating installation characterized by thefact that it comprises a series of work stations at which one or moremechanical, chemical, electro-chemical, or other operations are carriedout which form part of a compelte predetermined sequence ormanufacturing cycle. These stations are associated with individuallyregulable transfer means or robots mechanically and electricallyarranged to carry out the operations required by the manufacturing ortreatment of the given work pieces, in such manner as to automaticallyassure, at the desired tempo, between suitably disposed entrance anddischarge stations, all the movements necessary to transfer from onestation to another the partially or completely manufactured or treatedworkpieces which have been partially or entirely manufactured or treatedat each of these stations.

In one embodiment of this installation, especially designed for use inthe electrolytic treatment of any suitable metallic workpieces, andcomprising the conventional electrolyzing and rinsing tanks or vats, theautomatic transfer means or robots are interposed between the tanks andcomprise one or more arms provided with prehensile means pivotallymounted on a horizontal axis in such manner as to permit a forward andreturn motion of the desired amplitude to be efliected.

An automatic installation of this type is controlled by a geared downmotor which is itself controlled by a reversing switch, controlled inturn by a series of rolling contractors which control the starting,reversing of the direction of movement, slowing down, stopping, or anyother actions required by the operating cycle. Each robot transfer meansis so controlled by the one which precedes it that it can start up onlywhen the carrier on which the workpiece or workpieces are placed hasarrived at the end of its path of travel, and the overall organizationof the apparatus is such that when a workp1ece carrier is positioned ineach tank, a pushing device controlled by the transfer robot associatedtherewith imparts to it a forward motion for a predetermined distancedependent upon the size of the workpieces.

Thus, at the start of the cycle of operations, the first tank of theinstallation progressively fills up, the workpiece carriers pushing oneanother along, and when the first carrier reaches the output end of thetank it is seized by a robot which lifts it and transfers it to the nexttank, and so on until it reaches the terminal station at which finishedworkpieces are delivered.

In most cases, and in the particular case of nickel or chrome plating,it is desirable to shake the workpieces while they are in theelectrolytic bath. For this purpose, the following devices may be addedto the installation hereinbefore described, either separately or incombination:

(1) The one or more tanks in which the workpieces must be treated areprovided at their input ends with means for advancing the workpiececarriers comprising atent O fixed toothed racks cooperating withalternately moving electrically conductive rails, connected by flexibleconductors to the DC. current source of the installation, these railsresting on rollers mounted on supports which are fixed to the upperedges of the longitudinal walls of the tank or tanks.

(2) The alternating movement of the conductive rails is brought about bymeans of pivoted arms actuated by a suitable transmission of theeccentric and connecting rod type driven by an electric motor.

(3) At the output end of the tank or tanks through which the workpiecespass means for catching the workpiece carriers is mounted which seizesand immobilizes each workpiece carrier upon its arrival at this end soas to permit it to be lifted by the prehensile means of the associatedrobot while permitting the alternating movement of the conducive railsand the workpieces which they support to continue.

(4) At the output end of the last tank of the installation, a robot ispositioned which transfers the finished workpieces to a pusherdistributor which brings the finished workpieces successively with reachof the transfer means positioned at the discharge station.

In order that the object of the invention may be better understood onespecific embodiment thereof will now be described, purely by way ofillustration, and without limiting the scope of the invention thereto.This is shown on the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the installation;

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail showing one of the flexibleconnections which connect the source of DC. current to the movablerails;

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken along the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figures 6 and 7 are partial views on an enlarged scale of the upper partof Figure 2, showing the details of the mechanism for advancing articlesto be treated through the tank of electrolyte;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are detail views showing the construction andfunctioning of the automatic gripping means for momentarily immobilizingthe carriers for the workpieces at the end of the tank of electrolyte;

Figure 11 is a detail View of a carrier for the workpieces to betreated;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a robot or automatic transfermeans; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the control mechanism of arobot.

The installation shown is one for chrome plating, ar ranged in a closedcircuit, so that the workpieces may be started in and taken out at asingle station by a single operator. This double station comprises azone 1 (Fig. 1) at which the workpieces are started in and a zone 1afrom which they are withdrawn. It comprises a support shown verticallyon Figure 5 and in plan on Figure 1, provided with two vertical columns2 and two horizontal rails 3 and 4, having a V-shaped cross-sectiondesigned to receive the carriers for the articles to be treated, forexample, the bicycle rims 5. These carriers comprise, in the presentinstance, a frame formed of two longitudinal members 6 and 7 (Figure 11)connected near their centers by a crossbar 8 and provided at their endswith skids or runners 9 having the same section as the twoabove-mentioned rails 3 and 4. Two arms 10 are mounted on the cross-bar8 and are adjustable as to length and spacing. To the end of each arm isfixed suitable attaching means 11 for holding the workpieces to betreated.

Opposite this input and discharge station is a tank 12 (Figs. 1 and 2)containing the electrolytic bath, for example, a bath having a chromicacid base, connected to a pumping tank 13 associated with a heater notshown. The tank 12 is provided with the conventional electric equipmentordinarily provided for such processes, which it is unnecessary todescribe in detail, since it forms no part of the invention. Referencenumeral 15 (Fig. 1) indicates the control box for the electricequipment, 16 the rectifier thereof, and 17, 18 and 19 the conductivebars longitudinally positioned on the tank 12 and supporting three rowsof anodes 14, suitably spaced to permit the articles which are beingtreated to pass freely between them. The bars 17, 18 and 19 areconnected by a conductor 20 to the positive pole of the rectifier 16(Figure 1).

On the upper edges of the longitudinal walls of the tank 12 are mountedthe brackets 21 (Fig. 2) carrying the rollers 22 on which rest the tworails 23 and 24, similar to the rails 3 and 4 of the input and dischargestation 11a.

The rails 23 and 24 are connected to the negative pole of the rectifier16 by means of flexible terminals 23a-24a (Figures 1 and 4) which areconnected to eachother by a conductor 24b positionedbeneath the tank 12.These rails are provided with projections 25 which are engaged in theforked ends 26 of two arms 27 pivotally mounted at 28 (Figure 2) on thelongitudinal walls of the tank 12. These arms 27 are connected at theirlower ends by a cross member 29 (Figures 1 and 2) passing below the saidtank and to which is.articulated a connecting rod 30 driven by aneccentric 31 controlled by an electric motor 32. As will bereadilyunderstood, the arms 27 may thus be given alternating pivotingmovement about the axes 28, a pivoting which is converted intorectilinear alternating movement of the rails 23 and 24 on theirsupporting rollers 22.

In alignment with the tank 12 (Figure l) is a tank 33 in which thetreated articles are rinsed and the chromic acid which these articlesbrought with them when they left the electrolytic bath is removed. Thistank 33 is associated with a running water rinsing tank 34, followed bya hot water rinsing tank 35, parallel to the tank 12, close to the inputand discharge station 1--1a.

Two symmetrically disposed racks 36 (Figures 6 and 7) are positioned onthe longitudinal walls of the tank 12 near its input end. These racksrest freely on two rollers 42 carried by two arms 40 provided with an adjustable counter weight 43 and mounted topivot at 41 in a box 37 inwhich the racks are retained by means of flanges 3838a. This arrangementpermits the partial withdrawal of the racks 36 into the box 37, as willbe hereinafter explained.

On the other hand (as shown in Figs. 8-10), at the output end of thetank, that is to say, at the end remote from the racks hereinbeforedescribed, are two catches consisting of arms 45 mounted to pivot at 46and provided at one end with a counterweight 47, their other ends beingprovided with a notch 48 shaped to receive the cross member 8 of theworkpiece carriers.

Reference numeral 49 designates a transfer robot associated with thedischarge station 1 and the tank 12. The other robots ofthe installationare designated respectively by members 51, 52 and 53. The robot 50 isinterposed between the output end of the tank 12 and the first rinsingtank 33, while the robot 51 serves the tanks 33 and 34, the robot 52serves the tanks 34 and 35, and the robot 53 serves the tank 35 and thedischarge station 111.

The transfer robots may'obviously be of any suitable type. In theembodiment illustrated on the drawings, and particularly on Figures 12and 13, these robots (the electrical equipment and connections for whichare enclosed in a suitable casing) comprise transfer means properconsisting of two arms 54 connected by a cross member 56 and provided attheir free ends with prehen- 4 sive means 55 formed from two fingers ofunequal length which constitute a fork of sorts.

This transfer means proper is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis 57actuated by a geared down motor 58 controlled through the contacts 59,which, as indicated at the beginning of this specification. bring aboutthe different operations necessary to complete the normal working cycle(starting, reversing, slowing down, stopping, etc.).

Each robot being suitably controlled by 'the one which precedes it, theoperation of the installation is as follows: The workpieces 5 to betreated are picked up at 1 by the operator and placed, in the mannerindicated in Figure 11, on the suspending means 11 of a carriersupported by its skids 9 on the rails 3 and 4. The main electric circuitfor the installation having been energized, the fingers 55 of the arms54 of the robot 49 seize by its crossbar 8 the carrier loaded with theworkpieces 5, and transfer them to the entrance to the tank 121, wherethey drop the crossbar 8 into the first notch of the racks 36 (Figures1, 2 and 6), the skids 9 resting on the conductive rails 23 and 24.Immediately after this operation, the transfer arms 54 of the robot 49automatically return to loading position in front of station 1.

It should be noted that the back and forth course of the rails 23 and 24under the control of the arms 27, corresponds to the pitch of the teeth36. These racks permit the carriers drawn toward by the rails 23 and 24to advance freely. In the course of this forward movement, the crossbar8 climbs the slopes of the next teeth, thus forcing the racks part waydown into their box 37, and becomes engaged in the next notches, therack then returning to its normal position. The carrier isthus'prevented from following the rails in their backward course.

It advances with respect to them by sliding forward on the impetus ofeach oscillation back and forth.

The racks have a length equal to the reach of the carriers. Under theseconditions, when a carrier has cleared all the teeth of the racks, itrests freely on the rails which carry it along in their continuousbackward and forward motion, thus subjecting the workpieces '5 to theeffects of the desired agitation in the bath 12. At the same time, thisfirst carrier is progressively pushed toward the discharge end of thetank 12 by the new carriers successively brought forward to the racks 36by the robot 49 and driven forward, each in its turn, by these racks.

Upon arrival at the discharge end of the tank 12, each carrier loadedwith workpieces 5 is automatically caught in the notches 43 of thecatches 45 (Figures 8, 9 and'lO). At this moment the skid 9 at the endof the carrier touches a contact 67 which starts the robot 50, the arms54 of which seize the carrier to bring it into the tank 33. From thistank the arms of the robot 51 in their turn pick up the carrier andbring'it to the tank 34 whence the arms of the robot 52 catch it up totransport it to and dip it in the last tank 35. Then the robot 53 liftsthe carrier out and places it on a conveyor located near the dischargestation 1a.

The conveyor to which reference has just been made comprises (Figures 1and 5) a pusher 60 fixed to a nut 61 screwed onto a threaded rod 62housed in a tubular guide 63 mounted on the supports 63a positionedbetween the supports 2 for the rails 3 and 4. The nut 61carries acontactor 64 which cooperates with a reversing switch 65 positioned atthe end of the tubular guide 63.

When the carrier loaded with treated and rinsed workpieces has beenplaced on the rails 3 and 4 by the arms 54 of the robot 53, the pusher60 presses against the crossbar 8 of the carrier and moves ittoward thedischarge station 1a where the operator need only remove the treatedarticles 5 and replace them with articles to be treated. At this momentthe contactor 64-engages the reversing switch 65 and the device returnsto its initial position. The operating cycle recommences' and proceedsas hereinbefore described.

It will of course be appreciated that this embodiment has been describedpurely by Way of illustration without in any way limiting the scope ofthe invention to the specific details thereof, which may be modifiedwithout thereby departing from the spirit of the invention.

The installation may thus, for example, be positioned in a line insteadof a closed circuit and the number and arrangement of the tanks, robotsand related devices may be varied to suit the particular type of workwhich is to be automatically carried out.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic installation for advancing workpieces through asuccession of work stations comprising an input station, at least oneintermediate station and a discharge station, at least some of saidstations comprising tanks in which said workpieces are to be dipped andat least one of said tanks having an input end and an output end, saidat least one tank being provided with a pair of toothed racks on itslongitudinal walls together with a pair of movable rails parallel tosaid racks, a plurality of independently movable workpiece carriersadapted to hold workpieces in a desired manner at any of said stations,said workpiece carriers being adapted to rest and be guided on saidrails and extend transversely across said rack between the teeththereof, and means for reciprocating said rails parallel to said racks,said racks being provided with teeth which slope gently upward on theside nearest the input end of said tank, but extend sharply up on theside nearest its output end and being mounted to yield downwardly underpressure, so that when said rails move forward, said workpiece carrierrides over the gently sloping sides of said teeth by depressing saidracks, but when said rails move backward, the opposite sides of saidteeth prevent the carriers from moving backward therewith, individuallymovable automatic transfer means between each intermediate station andthe adjacent stations, said transfer means being adapted to advance anindividual workpiece carrier from a transfer-out position in one stationto the next station, and control means for each transfer means actuatedby the arrival of a workpiece carrier in the transfer-out position ofthe preceding station.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 in which said rails areelectrically conductive and connected by a flexible conductor to asource of electric current, the bath in said at least one tank being anelectrolyte which is also connected to a source of electric current.

3. An installation as claimed in claim 2 in which said rack terminatesshort of the output end of said electrolyte containing tank and saidoutput end is provided with biassed means for automatically engaging aworkpiece carrier when it reaches said output end and retaining it inposition beyond said rack to be picked up by said transfer means.

4. An installation as claimed in claim 2 in which said electrolytecontaining tank carries an electrical contact which is actuated by aworkpiece carrier upon its arrival at the output end thereof and closesan electric circuit which energizes the transfer means between saidelectrolyte containing tank and the next tank.

5. An automatic installation for electrolytically treating metallicworkpieces comprising in combination a series of electrolytic andrinsing tanks, provided with means for supporting workpiece carriersmovable along said tanks, interchangeable automatic transfer meanspositioned between said tanks and carrying a pair of pivotally mountedarms rigidly connected to each other by a tie bar, arcuate fingers atthe ends of said arms, means for turning said arms about a horizontalaxis through an arc suflicient to swing said fingers from a carrierengaging position above one of the adjacent tanks to a carrier releasingposition above the other adjacent tank, a geared down motor connected toturn the arms of each transfer means, control means for said motorcomprising means for starting, stopping, reversing and slowing down themovement of said arm, and a switch at one end of each tank which isautomatically closed by the arrival of a carrier at said tank end, andthe closing of which initiates the cycle of operation of the adjacenttransfer means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,866,124 Oertli July 5, 1932 2,650,600 Davis Sept. 1, 1953 2,696,122Clark Dec. 7, 1954 2,789,569 Davis Apr. 23, 1957 2,851,044 Davis Sept.9, 8

FOREIGN PATENTS 690,619 Great Britain Apr. 22, 1953 731,268 Germany Feb.3, 1943 819,031 Germany Oct. 29, 1951 939,603 Germany Feb. 23, 1956

1. AN AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION FOR ADVANCING WORKPIECES THROUGH ASUCCESSION OF WORK STATIONS COMPRISING AN INPUT STATION, AT LEAST ONEINTERMEDIATE STATION AND A DISCHARGE STATION, AT LEAST SOME OF SAIDSTATIONS COMPRISING TANKS IN WHICH SAID WORKPIECES ARE TO BE DIPPED ANDAT LEAST ONE OF SAID TANKS HAVING AN INPUT END AND AN OUTPUE END, SAIDAT LEAST ONE TANK BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF TOOTHED RACKS ON ITSLONGITUDINAL WALLS TOGETHER WITH A PAIR OF MOVABLE RAILS PARALLEL TOSAID RACKS, A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENTLY MOVABLE WORKPIECE CARRIERSADAPTED TO HOLD WORKPIECES IN A DESIRED MANNER AT ANY OF SAID STATIONS,SAID WORKPIECE CARRIERS BEING ADAPTED TO REST AND BE GUIDED ON SAIDRAILS AND EXTEND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID RACK BETWEEN THE TEETHTHEREOF, AND MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID RAILS PARALLEL TO SAID RACKS,SAID RACKS BEING PROVIDED WITH TEETH WHICH SLOPE GENTLY UPWARD ON THESIDE NEAREST THE INPUT END OF SAID TANK, BUT EXTEND SHARPLY UP ON THESIDE NEAREST ITS OUTPUT END AND BEING MOUNTED TO YIELD DOWNWARDLY UNDERPRESSURE, SO THAT WHEN SAID RAILS MOVE FORWARD, SAID WORKPIECE CARRIERRIDES OVER THE GENTLY SLOPING SIDES OF SAID TEETH BY DEPRESSING SAIDRACKS, BUT WHEN SAID RAILS MOVE BACK-